Madhya Pradesh government has sought Rs 2,812 crore from the Centre for preparations towards the Kumbh mela to be held in Ujjain in 2016.

In a letter to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia yesterday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said four to five crore devotees are expected to participate in the "Simhashta 2016". A sum of Rs 2,812 crore is required from the Centre to complete projects related to Simhashta (as Ujjain Kumbh mela is called), he said, adding the religious congregation will attract devotees from abroad, too.

He said the Ujjain Municipal Corporation has prepared a "Master Plan" for smooth conduct of the festival, held every 12 years. According to the plan, all departments concerned will work in tandem.